Managing Speed Review of Current Practices for Setting and Enforcing Speed Limits -- Special Report 254 (1998) / Chapter Skim
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Appendix D: Review of Automated Technologies for Speed Management and Enforcement
Appendix D: Review of Automated Technologies for Speed Management and Enforcement
Pages 359-390
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From page 359... ...
Such programs are in existence in Victoria and New South Wales, Australia; British Columbia and Ontario, Canada; the Netherlands; Sweden; and perhaps others. In the United States, speed management and speed enforcement are the responsibilities of the states and communities, although the 359
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From page 360... ...
Then a brief overview of automated photo radar technologies is given, followed by a presentation of experiences with automated speed enforcement, mostly using photo radar. Finally, some of the political and legal issues associated with the use of photo radar are discussed, and thoughts on the most effective types of implementation of automated speed management and speed enforcement are expressed.
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From page 361... ...
Two major types of automated speed management are identified: speed monitoring and warning systems, and variable speed limit systems. Following the review of the early work, more recent experiences of speed monitoring and warning systems and, on a country-by-country basis, of variable speed limit systems are examined.
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From page 362... ...
state, "The concept of variable speed limits involves setting minimum and maximum speed limits based on real-time monitoring of prevailing traffic and roadway conditions and using dynamic information displays to inform motorists of the appropriate limits." They go on to state that no existing sys
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was judged less sophisticated than the European systems in terms of backup capabilities and the ability to store historical data (which all the European systems had) , which would be needed if enforcement were to accompany the use of variable speed limits.
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and at five school zones with speed limits of 25 mph (40 km/h)
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for vehicles still exceeding the speed limit. Evaluations indicated significant reductions in average speeds, 85th percentile speeds, percentages of speeders, and the standard deviation of speeds.
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, in her review of variable speed limit systems, included a discussion of the Dutch speed management system installed in
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From page 367... ...
by 2000. Displayed speed limits are reduced depending on traffic and weather conditions.
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intervals. Evaluation found that aspects of the system, especially the lane-control information, were confusing to drivers, and that the variable speed limits did not induce any changes in driver speeds.
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The effects were about the same as those with police presence. Some reductions in the speeds of the highest-speed vehicles, especially trucks [reductions from 30 to 70 percent of trucks exceeding the speed limit by 10 mph (16 km/h)
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From page 370... ...
OVERVIEW OF AUTOMATED SPEED ENFORCEMENT TECHNOLOGIES Automated speed enforcement (ASE) equipment has been in use for more than 30 years (Blackburn and Bauer 1995)
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From page 371... ...
. At the time of this review, there are reportedly 75 countries using automated speed enforcement (American Traffic Systems 1997)
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From page 372... ...
The enforcement occurred primarily on arterial roads with 37-mph (60-km/h) speed limits in both metropolitan and country areas.
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From page 373... ...
The researchers analyzed a sample of speeds taken from 44 locations and continuous speed data taken from 8 permanent monitoring sites. They found little change in average speeds or in 85th percentile speeds but significant reductions in the percentage of vehicles exceeding the speed limit by at least 9 mph (15 km/h)
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The analyses indicated that both average speeds and the percentage of drivers exceeding the speed limit of 31 mph (50 km/h) decreased during the enforcement period but increased again after enforcement ended.
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From page 375... ...
It was particularly evident on autobahn A6 from Cologne to Hannover to Berlin, especially in conjunction with reduced speed limits in construction zones. This observation has been confirmed by the coordinator for police traffic activities in the state of Niedersachsen, with headquarters in Hannover (personal communication, E
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From page 376... ...
If the registered owner will not identify the driver, and the driver is repeatedly detected speeding, German law enables the police to require the owner to keep a log of all trips and their drivers for later reference. Photo radar is being used in conjunction with the variable speed limit program described in the previous section.
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From page 377... ...
They point out that recent enabling legislation that holds vehicle owners, as opposed to drivers, liable for speeding violations makes their program more effective. They also quote additional research by Oei, reported by the Dutch Institute for Road Research, that shows the efficiency in the use of automated speed enforcement as compared with manual enforcement, and they quote other research that shows that automated enforcement can be ineffective without accompanying media publicity.
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From page 378... ...
This enforcement is part of Sweden's national road safety program, intended to decrease the proportion of drivers exceeding the speed limits by 35 percent by 2000.
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From page 379... ...
speed limit indicated a change from 1,090 drivers per day traveling more than 20 mph (32 km/h) over the limit before enforcement to 30 drivers per day after, a reduction of 97 percent.
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. (Canadian locations with current ASE programs include British Columbia and Edmonton, Calgary, and Lethbridge, Alberta.)
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From page 381... ...
. · The percentage of vehicles exceeding the speed limits by various amounts was examined.
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From page 382... ...
This issue has been addressed by a number of state supreme courts and appellate courts, and it was found consistently that photographic evidence of this type, if it can be shown to be authentic and competent, is admissible. Scientific Reliability The issue here is whether the photo radar equipment can be shown to be scientifically valid and reliable.
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From page 383... ...
, then frontal photographs would not be necessary since it would only be necessary to identify the vehicle. A related issue is that some states do not require front license plates, so a frontal photograph would not identify the vehicle.
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From page 384... ...
With this mode, many boxes are usually installed at the locations to be used for speed enforcement, the locations being evident to the motorists. However, there are far fewer photo radar units than boxes, so the photo radar units are rotated among the boxes.
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From page 385... ...
If they received the ticket because of photo radar enforcement, 45 percent said that it would be unfair and 60 percent said that it would make them angry. The authors conclude that "there are obviously a number of drivers whose attitude towards the cameras simply reflects their attitude towards enforcement in general." DEPLOYMENT STRATEGIES FOR ASE Automated Speed Monitoring and Warning Systems Experience with these systems indicates that they can be effective at selective locations, such as in school zones and work zones.
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From page 386... ...
Actual enforcement must accompany the reduced speed limit, at least some of the time, and must be accompanied by publicity about both the variable speed limit and the presence of enforcement. Automated Speed Enforcement ASE and, in particular, photo radar can be effective in detecting and convicting drivers traveling at excessive speeds, provided that enabling legislation that is supported by the politicians and the courts is in force.
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From page 387... ...
1997. Speed Limits, Speeds and Safety.
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From page 388... ...
1984. Increase of Traffic Safety by Surveillance of Speed Limits with Automatic Radar Devices on a Dangerous Section of a German Autobahn: A Long-Term Investigation.
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From page 389... ...
1997. Using Variable Speed Limit Signs To Mitigate Speed Differentials Upstream of Reduced Flow Locations.
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From page 390... ...
Proceedings of Seminar J of the 22nd European Transport Forum for Traffic Management and Road Safety, PTRC Education and Research Services, Ltd., Vol.
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